VOLUME XLIV - No. 5 - Sept/Oct 2010 The Bromeliad Society of Queensland Inc. P. O. Box 565, Fortitude Valley Queensland, Australia 4006, Home Page www.bromsqueensland.com OFFICERS PRESIDENT Olive Trevor (07) 3351 1203 VICE PRESIDENT Jennifer Coulthard (07) 33532773 SECRETARY Chris Coulthard (07) 33532773 TREASURER Glenn Bernoth (07) 4661 3634 COMMITTEE Pamela Butler, Fred Thomson Bruce Dunstan, Barry Kable MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Roy Pugh (07) 3263 5057 LIBRARIAN David Rees SHOW ORGANISER Bob Cross PUBLICITY OFFICER John Olsen BROMELIACEAE EDITOR Ross Stenhouse

Editors Email Address: [email protected] Contents

TILLANDSIA ‘SILVER C ANDELABRA ’ ...... 3 THE BSQ W EB S ITE ...... 6 NUTRITION . - CALCIUM AND MAGNESIUM , T HE NEGLECTED NUTRIENTS ...... 6 AECHMEA ‘FRECA ROSEA ’ ...... 9 ALCANTAREAS IN AUSTRALIA ...... 11 CALENDAR OF EVENTS ...... 27

From the Editor: Well I have finally got it finished and you have finally received yet another copy of Bromeliaceae. I can only apologise for the delay, there have been valid reasons. I intend to try and get the next edition (the Nov-Dec edition) out within the next month and then work on the edition after that and hopfully get that out at the end of March - that’s quite a workload for a voluntary position!

Front Cover: Guzmania‘ Odette ’ photo by Ross Stenhouse Rear Cover : Guzmania ‘ Loja’ bra photo by Ross Stenhouse

The Bromeliad Society of Queensland Inc. gives permission to all Bromeliad Societies to reprint articles in their journals provided proper acknowledgement is given to the original author and the Bromeliaceae, and no contrary direction is published in Bromeliaceae. This permission does not apply to any other person or organisation without the prior permission of the author. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the individual contributor and may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Bromeliad Society of Queensland or of the Editor Authors are responsible for the accuracy of the information in their articles.

Bromeliaceae 2 Sept/Oct 2010 and covered over with bracts; the lowermost Tillandsia ‘Silver bracts are leaf-like, the upper ones quickly becoming shorter to about 4 cm long and Candelabra’ oblong, keeps the colour of the leaves until by Derek Butcher 9/2010. the top which is brownish on the outside; they nestle narrowly on the scape, however the This started about 10 years ago when acuminate tip is spreading giving the stem a Mick Romanowski talked about this vari- quite rough look. The bracts are very dense egated Tillandsia viridiflora he had that at the lower half and imbricate, then they flowered with a branched inflorescence and move apart more, so that the scape remains not like the single inflorescence of his ‘nor- uncovered to the node, at the same time they mal’ T. viridiflora. I assured him not to worry become thinner and lanceolate; the uppermost because the description in Smith & Downs are appressed to the stem. said the inflorescence could be either simple The branches, with our plant three at or branched. number, are almost at right angles where they In 2007 I heard rumblings from Renate branch off, bending soon upward, shorter Ehlers about this branched plant she had than the top spike, always simple and with found which seemed to be a species in its a primary bract similar to the scape bracts own right and she even got the Mexicans to but somewhat wider, and solidly appressed agree that it was the long lost T. macropetala to the branch. and that the name should be resurrected from The flowers are densely distichously synonymity under T. viridiflora . This had me arranged on the branches, but clearly move checking the old records and this is what I apart after anthesis. The floral bracts are simi - came up with: lar to the scape bracts, only they are rounder and a little bigger than these; the lowermost “Tillandsia macropetala Wawra, Wien- are sterile. The flowers are sessile, which with er III. Gart. 12: 241, Fig. 50. 1887. Type. Vi- the floral bract are joined on a short stalk. enna Hortus ex E. Morren s n (n v). Identified The calyx is a rounded stem and exactly by description and illustration. as long as the bract but appears about as long Translated by Butcher as the exserted stem. Sepals are pale green, A magnificent plant 1½ metres high, only at the outer tip are some brownish and formed by a rosette of leaves, around the base hardly marked. of the shaft virtually 1 metre in diameter; its The pale yellow petals overhang (to massive, wide pale red sheaths unite in an my knowledge) those of all other Tillandsias oval bulb; its lanceolate leaf blades spreading and Vrieseas, they become 12 cm long; the in a dainty bow, as you look downwards; they lower ones are smaller, in the calyx half they taper to a fine tip, a lively green, matt, both are very narrow and the edges are imbricate, sides about the same colour and with faint and form with the sepals a spiralling tube; darker stains and markings. The innermost the upper larger half is similarly wider so leaves erect, are smaller and narrower, and that they become fully 2 cm wide below the merge into the scape bracts above. rounded off tip. The petals are far apart and The Inflorescence is very long and, after anthesis hang laxly downwards; they are very poorly branched Panicle; the Panicle delicate and, (in subdued light) many nerved scape is strictly erect, as thick as your thumb the nerves run Bromeliaceae 3 Sept/Oct 2010 Bromeliaceae 4 Sept/Oct 2010 parallel, bending downwards towards until later. I can only say that so far I can - and disappearing near the petal edge, without not decide categorically that honey-scales anastomosis. Nectaries missing at the base. constitute a . Bentham and Hoocker The filaments straight, prominent, quite (gene.) admittedly put no big weight on the free, and about 2 cm longer than the corolla. same and unify both genera under Tillandsia. The anthers are long, very narrow some over The entirely different look of that to Vriesea 1cm, (pollen gold-yellow), blunt at both ends, does not appear to justify such an amalgama- attached in its lower third, then split; lying tion in the manner paid to Tillandsia without near the fold. dividing a natural group. It remains to be The oblong smooth, with a slimy mass seen whether we look for a new difference, of outer coating Ovary, tapering into the whether in the flower or fruit, to take notice threadlike style above. This is stronger than of the vegetative organs, incidentally where the filaments, and the tips are bent down- I had very little material to work with - the wards, blunt triangular and exceeding the examination could be planned only on one filament by about 2 cm, therefore 16 cm long. single, wilted flower - that maybe tiny scales The leaflike wide stigma lobes are lanceolate, are the answer.” blunt, green and spiral. The linear placenta So we now know what the non-vari- have many rows, narrow short stemmed, of egated form looks like and this is the one short stringed seeds. that will eventually bepublished because the Habitat: Mexico. writers are only interested in this plant found The illustration of this plant (larger in in the wild. Remember too that when Reed real life), with a leaf and a flower came to me S. Beaman and Walter S. Judd reviewed the from Liege from my unforgettable friend, the species in Brittonia 48(1): 1-19. 1996 no highly regarded botanical and particularly Bromeliaceae expert Professor Morren, a few days after his passing away. Morren seems to have shown great interest in the solution to the problem as to whether this was a new species because of its unique vegetative organs; it was not for him to experience the development of the flower. The expectation of Morren’s was Suppliers of fine amply justified. The plant proved to be a new species, which is mainly based on the very tissue-cultured bromeliads long petals from the other Tillandsias (and Vrieseas). But it shows another peculiarity; [email protected] our plant has completely the habit of a Vriesea www.plantbiotech.com.au but lacks the honey-scales at the base of the petals. The existence of these scales in Vriesea Phone (07) 5471 6036 forms the only decisive, because the flower Postal Address: 7 Thougla Place, is different to Tillandsia; for the time being Buderim QLD 4556 I believe this is a new species and name it Lab: 99 West Coolum Road, Tillandsia macropetala because of its very Mount Coolum QLD 4573 long petals, after deciding to leave the proof as to whether it was a Vriesea or Tillandsia Bromeliaceae 5 Sept/Oct 2010 mention was made of the variegated variety. – she is good at these sorts of things – and we Taxonomists try to stay clear of variegated came up with ‘Silver Candelabra’. because they rarely reproduce in the Just one word of warning. Even though wild from seed. Their reproduction is asexual the plant has been in Australia say over 30 and there is no one in the wild to move offsets years the adventitious offsets you can expect around. Only in cultivation does variegation at the base are many and varied. It is sug - get selected from offsets, improved on, and gested that you only select the variegated circulated. ones. If you don’t then you will have to call What about the T. viridiflora var. vari- them ‘Silver Candelabra Novar’ - in other egata which was described as: words No variegation!! but if grown on they Tillandsia viridiflora (Beer) Baker, are just as likely to produce some variegated var. variegata W. Seaborn, J Brom Soc 29 : adventitious offsets! 182 . 1979 A var. viridiflora foliis variegatis dif- fert. Type: Cultivated W. Seaborn s n (US). Plant Nutrition. In cultivation this plant picks up a dark - Calcium and red diffusion. The plant was found in the Jalapa, Vera Cruz, Mexico area, 1968. Magnesium, The The photograph clearly shows this is the branched inflorescence form and links Neglected Nutrients. to the variegated form that eventually got to Author: Peter Paroz Australia. So this plant will be in limboland as to a name because it does not link to T. Calcium and magnesium are macro- viridiflora (Beer) Baker in the strict sense. nutrients essential for plant growth, ranking My interest in this cultivar was triggered after phosphorus in the amounts required. by a recent photo of a from Calcium is a component of cell walls and Peter Tristram from Repton, NSW. I then essential for cell permeability. Magnesium found out that Mick Romanowski was not the is a component of chlorophyll and a co-factor only Victorian growing this plant and had to for some enzyme reactions. add Chris Larson to the list. No doubt there Available information, which is scant are many other Australians growing this plant. for ornamental bromeliads, suggests that I felt it needed a name but it is useless giving additional (in relation to that contained in a name to a plant for it to be ignored which commercial soluble fertilisers) calcium and is why I got growers of this plant involved in magnesium would benefit bromeliad plant the discussion. I asked Margaret for a name growth. In this respect, I am guided by the information in Benzing’s book ‘The Biology of Bromeliads’. The BSQ Web Site I have been adding supplementary Don’t forget that the society has a web magnesium to Phostrogen for many years site. We place urgent and general information with no ill effects. Recently, I started adding and information on the site. calcium as well to a commercial soluble fer - The URL is: tiliser as the available information suggested www.Bromeliadsqueensland.com that calcium level from the Brisbane town

Bromeliaceae 6 Sept/Oct 2010 water supply was probably too low for the plants needs. Recent observations also sug - FOREST DRIVE gest that a fertiliser with an NPK of 14:4:24 is too low in potassium. ( I believe that leaf tip dieback in the oldest leaves is a reliable NURSERY indication of insufficient potassium). Some of the popular soluble fertilisers Located at REPTON, South of Coffs include magnesium; but I have not found any Harbour, NSW containing both calcium and magnesium. The Specialising in species and varieties from reason for this is that it is extremely difficult mostly imported stock to devise a mixture of all the essential major plant nutrients that will not ‘cakeup’ and form Tillandsias to Titillate even the most an insoluble residue on storage. One solution discerning fanciers to this problem is to have the calcium as a Beautiful Vrieseas (including Silver separate component which is added when the species), Guzmanias, fertiliser is made up for use. The calcium salt Aechmeas, Neoregelias, etc . of choice is calcium nitrate; ( 8 % nitrogen, Visitors Welcome, Please Phone First 23 % calcium ) but, for small users, it may (02) 6655 4130 not be readily available. Mail Order List - Send SAE A useful alternative is Calcium acetate Peter Tristram, PO Box 55, Repton, which can be easily prepared from garden NSW, 2454 lime ie. calcium carbonate (NOT slaked lime or quick lime) and vinegar. You will need a couple of one litre bot- BRISBANE tles, plastic preferred. Measure out 300 ml of vinegar. Use the cheap colourless variety BROMELIAD CENTRE M. J. PATERSON

212 SANDY CREEK ROAD, 34 Hauton Road, Morayfield 4506 GYMPIE, Qld 4570 HUGE SELECTION Large Range of Bromeliads For Sale of Especially our own Hybrid Tillandsias Aechmeas, Vrieseas, Guzmanias, and Neoregelias Neoregelias Nidularium & Tillandsias DO CALL IN IF YOU ARE UP THIS WAY together with a variety of rarer species and hydrids BARBARA and LORRAINE PHONE / FAX Phone (07) 5433 0303 (07) 5482 3308 VISITORS by APPOINTMENT

Bromeliaceae 7 Sept/Oct 2010 All of the photos on this page are of Aech- mea ‘Freca Rosea’ Bromeliaceae 8 Sept/Oct 2010 made from acetic acid. Don’t waste a good Tillandsias absorb energy from sunlight fermented vinegar. Weigh out 15 grams of via the chlorophyll in the leaves and convert garden lime and add to the vinegar. Shake it into sugars. Sugars are ‘portable energy’; well a couple of times and, when the froth- some of which is used for immediate plant ing ceases, allow to stand and settle. Don’t growth and the surplus is stored in the plant worry about any insoluble residue. There is stem as starch. This stored energy, along with an intentional overdose of lime to ensure all accumulated nutrients, is used to support the acetic acid is neutralised. Pour off the the intense burst of growth once flowering clear liquid into another 1 litre bottle. Add has been initiated. This is the reason why I 100 ml of water to the residue, shake, allow advocate balanced fertilizer applications at to stand; and add the clear liquid to the first regular intervals -weaky and weekly - and bottle. Dilute the liquid to 1 litre and label growing plants for maximum sunlight ex - Stock Calcium Solution 5g Ca/L. posure; i.e. Maximum intensity that a plant For convenience, prepare a stock solu- can stand without leaf damage and maximum tion of magnesium from Epsom salts. Weigh day length. 50 grams of Epsom salts, dissolve in water, This regime ensures that the mineral and dilute to one litre. Label this bottle Stock reserves and stored energy are sufficient to Magnesium Solution 5 g Mg/L. support flower development and seed matura- If you want to experiment along the tion. This also explains why it is appropriate lines that I have been following, look for a to remove the flower spike if seeds are not re- soluble fertiliser listed for fruit and flower. It quired; in which case the stored nutrients and will have an N:P:K of the order of 16:5:26. energy are diverted to offset production. Any similar ratio will be OK. Use 0.5 gram Final word /litre of the soluble fertiliser and add 10 ml Good nutrition and appropriate sun of the stock calcium and 5 ml of the magne- exposure do not make flowers. It allows the sium solution/ L. Add the stock solutions plant to achieve its genetic potential. when the fertiliser is dissolved and nearly up to volume. Plants are genetically programmed Aechmea ‘Freca Rosea’ for survival of the species. The sequence of By D Butcher Nov 2010. growth is seed > seedling > mature plant > flower > seed development and maturation. Who has heard of this name before? With bromeliads, offset production is an ad- Are you interested? If you knew that ‘Freca’ ditional survival strategy. roughly means ‘free love’ if you live in The measure of success of a cultural the Caribbean Islands would you be more program (light exposure plus nutrition) can be interested? measured by the number of flowers (includ- Well, the story starts in October when ing branches) developed in the inflorescence; Allan Ladd puts a photo on the internet want- and to a lesser extent the number of offsets ing to know its name. There was deafening produced. In the case of seed raising, the silence and I said it was a good candidate time from setting out the seed to flowering for the bin even though it had similarities to is also a useful indicator. The potential for two photos I had on file namely JG16005 and a particular plant can only be assessed by JG26014 which I had got from John Catlan keeping suitable records. some 15 years ago. Those were the days when Bromeliaceae 9 Sept/Oct 2010 Top left and below : imperialis c.v. ‘Whyanbeel’ grown and photographed by Richard Harper This plant was until recently called Alcantarea brasiliana Above: Tilandsia deppeana

Bromeliaceae 10 Sept/Oct 2010 John just had to improve his camera tech- recorded #4098. Neomea ‘Freca Rosea’, US nique what with black cloths, special lighting Imp. 88-89, H Quil. Tom Davis Hybrid. No and stands. And he had a very good camera doubt, offsets of this plant would have left too. So I used to get sent photos that I tried to Pinegrove Nursery in the intervening years identify. These two just did not gel at the time with the inevitable losing of labels! Surely and had been filed under Aechmea sp . someone in Florida would answer our plea A lot of water has flowed under the on the internet. Only Harry Luther obliged by bridge since then and with the help of inter- confirming that Hazel Quilhot was friendly national exchange of ideas on the internet with Tom Davis who did hybridise (but never our knowledge of bromeliads has increased registered!!) There the trail ends. in leaps and bounds. Nobody is going to believe the asser- In December 2009 I learnt that Aech- tion that we have a xNeomea here so we will mea seidelii was really a hybrid of sorts and register it as an Aechmea which is a this had me contacting Bruno Rezende Silva, that contains lots of odd species. AND after the botanist involved. Although the specimen all ‘Freca Rosea’ has a certain ring to it. It is (dried?) was at Marie Selby Bot Gardens a smallish plant, approx. 25cm high by 35cm neither Bruno nor Marie Selby could help me wide when mature. out with a photo. Photo’s at least give you an idea what the plant looks like. In desperation I contacted Dennis Cathcart and was in luck. Alcantareas in When this query turned up almost a Australia year later I had something to refer to. In the Author Rob Smythe MSc - Nov 2010 late 1980’s Len Colgan in Adelaide had im- ported ‘species’ direct from Seidel because The table on the page over, lists the he was sure they had to be ‘new’ to Australia species of Alcantareas known, by me. to ex- – and they were. The problem was that many ist in Australia (black type). I have not seen did not like living or flowering in Adelaide all these so some may be incorrect. With the so several were shipped up north to see if a ones in bold text, I have listed species which change of climate would be better for them. I have never been notified of as currently Many turned out to not be according to the being in cultivation in Australia. In addition label. This was exactly the same as I found to this there are many plants already in Aus- out in early 1980 when importing species tralia which have been collected in the wild from the USA!!! It transpires that JG26014 and have yet to be botanically described as could well be the then unknown Aechmea species. seidelii. Investigations seem to suggest that Where has Alcantarea edmundoi gone? this plant is no longer with us. According to the recently published So half the problem was solved! Flora of São Paulo (Versieux and Wanderley Next was Kerry Tate who had a plant 2008) Alcantarea edmundo i is considered a called Aechmea capitata , which looked aw- synonym of Alcantarea regina . fully like JG16005. AND up jumped Ross Alcantarea regina vs. Alcantarea impe- Little telling me not to forget xNeomea ‘Freca rialis . (RSS separation guide) Although there Rosea’ which with the photo he sent me also are green imperialis and red regina, the first fitted the frame. difference that could catch your attention is The famous Buchanan Ledger had the colour and shapes of leaves and bracts. Bromeliaceae 11 Sept/Oct 2010 photo Above: Composite photo showing variations in imperialis bracts

Propagating Hair Pups-dry conditions Propagating Hair Pups-wet conditions.

Alc.extensa growing in its natural habitat in Mark Paul’s photo of his Alcantarea garden Palo Alto Brazil. photo by Mark Paul growing in the Sydney area Bromeliaceae 12 Sept/Oct 2010 These are usually coloured green in regina Alcantarea regina known as VdM (photo and show wine-red in imperialis. Of course page 19 - top left). This plant was fairly we are talking about nature, there are variants. recently found at an altitude of 2000 metres. See species heading below. Leaves of impe- The type locality species (photo page 17 rialis are usually wider and covered by wax, - bottom left) is found at sea level near Rio and have prominent nerves. Narrower green de Janeiro. The latter form is found to ap- leaved imperialis might present a problem. proximately 800 metres in São Paulo State. The shape of the leaf apex is quite It has been suggested that VdM might relate distinct, acute in regina and acuminate in to Alcantarea turgida or imperialis. Leonardo imperialis. Versieux, a leading bromeliad taxonomist has Because both have upwardly secund assured me that he is 100% sure it is a form of flowers (all flowers point upward) Alcantarea Alcantarea regina . I have studied it and find regina flowers are easily confused with flow- very little available to dispute his findings. ers of . I only say this as with new species, names In this article I will be referring to an might rumble around for a while before they Alcantarea brasiliana Alcantarea distractila * Alcantarea burle-marxii Alcantarea duarteana * Alcantarea nigripetala * Alcantarea farneyi * Alcantarea simplicisticha * Alcantarea geniculata Alcantarea alta * Alcantarea benzingii* Alcantarea heloisae Alcantarea hatschbachii* Alcantarea imperialis Alcantarea longibracteata * Alcantarea lurida Alcantarea tortuosa * Alcantarea martinelli * Alcantarea turgida* Alcantarea mucilaginosa* Alcantarea vasconcelosiana* Alcantarea nahoumii Alcantarea.cerosa* Alcantarea nevaresii* Alcantarea nova aff. patriae RSS* Alcantarea odorata Alcantarea patriae * Alcantarea regina Alcantarea roberto-kautskyi Alcantarea trepida *

* Not a permitted import at time of writ - See “ imports” below. ing.

Bromeliaceae 13 Sept/Oct 2010 settle. It has also been registered as a clone and VdM that I have had sent to me for iden - Alcantarea ‘Visconde de Maua’. tification have turned out to be Alcantarea Very annoying to me personally to see glaziouana with its distinctive milk white species named as clones. Selfings of a spe- flowers. Unfortunately this latter plant was cies, will still give progeny variation within widely grown as Vriesea regina alba . the circumscription of the species but being Imperialis petals obtuse regina acute a clone its progeny will then be given further (Some of the strongly spiraled forms of im- clone names. Leaving it with the species perialis seen by me appear ,in their photos, name this does not happen. One name there to have rather acute petals suggesting to me covers all—sorry my wheelbarrow. some past history with another species, most This is my attempt to guide you in the likely regina). separation of regina from imperialis. I have Imperialis petals that I have seen are covered the old and new botanical descrip- not generally strongly spiraled. When reach- tions minus those which in my opinion are in ing anthesis they quickly go flaccid whether error (Wittmack -genus is wrong and as I read strongly spiralled or not. The less spiralled it, it actually covers Alcantarea extensa and forms are horticulturally less attractive and another reads like geniculata ) and covered flowers can look like a fist of fingers (photo my own measurements on the plant we know page 17 - top left ). Regina’s petals. I am told, as VdM. This is probably a great waste of go reflexed and spiraled, in much the same time as in 99% of cases a look at the photos manner and go flaccid just as quickly. Petals below will leave little doubt in your mind as in both species change from yellow/cream to to which plant is which. Some green forms white as the day wears on. There is nothing, of imperialis (photo page 17 - bottom) may other than petal tip shape, in the literature to confuse a little. Regina could only be de- distinguish the flowers of the two species but scribed as petite compared with imperialis. I have observed that imperialis always has They do have a remarkable floral similarity red floral bracts and shows some red in the in that both have strongly upwardly secund sepals while regina can have red floral bracts flowers. The plant depicted in photo page 17 (usually green) but sepals always remain is a monster of a plant growing right through green. This great similarity is what makes the bush house and looking like imperialis but identifying these plants confusing at times. with bracts far more like regina . The plant we know as Alcantarea ‘Grace’ Leaf blades of imperialis are much (photo page 17) is it Alcantarea imperialis wider 12 cm vs. 7 to 10 cm for regina . Usu- aff. regina (plant suggests this) or Alcantarea ally a leathery wide straight to bow shaped regina aff. imperialis (bracts suggest this)? large leaves is enough to identify imperialis Looking at the flowers does not help much species. There are narrower leaved forms. at all. I think we would all go for the former I don’t know if these exist in the wild or if as the shear bulk of this plant relates strongly they are possibly distant hybrids with regina . with imperialis. I would also consider selfing In our gardens we find imperialis leaves can this plant to see if it is a hybrid. be 50% wider than for the plants recorded [Late note:- Mark Paul has traced this in the botanical literature. I don’t know if plant’s history. It was collected as seed from this is from selective breeding or growing a plant of Alcantarea imperialis collected conditions. I don’t know what happens with from the wild in Brazil and grown in a gar- regina as all outside of genuine ex edmundoi den in Brazil. There are at least 4 variants Bromeliaceae 14 Sept/Oct 2010 of it in Australia. Some of these are picking 5) Hybridizers were messing without up pet names. One is called Alc . ‘Bill’. The keeping records. variations probably suggest it is therefore an 6) Imported seed was either coming imperialis hybrid. Mark says the plant (photo in with the wrong name or confused in sow - on page 17 - bottom right) is more like the ing. unregistered plant ‘Bill’ than the registered 7) Names not challenged, too many ‘Grace’.] growers are happy to have a name—any Imperialis can have 15 to 50 flowers name will do. per branch while regina has a maximum of 25 8) More recently, flasked material has flowers. Imperialis has a much longer inflo- arrived with some names being incorrect. rescence. Plant in flower is 3 to 5 metres vs. 9) Any plants with regina in the name regina 1.7 to 2.8 metres. A tall inland form other than VdM need to be checked as this of regina has been discovered. These plants name, correctly covered almost all common may exceed the 2.8 metres limit suggested. species at various times, in the early days Time will tell. of bromeliad collecting. Its collection and Other distinguishing features without description and drawings seemed to embrace detail e.g. number of sterile bracts per branch, more than one species of plant. It wasn’t re- texture of leaves and twisting of leaf tips. ally resolved till 1997 after Leme (Bromelia There are some so called smaller im- 1997 #3 p28. I have not been able to confirm perialis plants around. You might notice they this and I have seen it written as 43 not#3) have a glossy rather than a wax covered upper cleared up the confused connection with the surface. These have been created by cross- then Vr. bloki i. Description of synonyms ing, some where (Hawaii?) in recent history, Tillandsia regina and drawing of Vr. regina with Alcantarea vinicolor and hence are not are inadequate and confusing and the follow true species. up was, to me, indecipherable. Why are the names of Alcantareas in How I am going about sorting out this Australia in such a mess? mess? I would say for nine reasons: Persons have tried to discourage me. 1) They arrived in Australia when tax- The horse has not bolted. Species numbers onomy and collecting data was in a mess. are few and manageable. This is probably the 2) They arrived in Australia before be- last window of possibility before all the new ing found and named from wild stock. species start flooding into this country. 3) Visiting authorities named our plants Alcantarea is represented by about for us on the assumption that they were cur- twenty species in Australia. I have been col- rently named plants. lecting hair pups widely and must have about 4) Alcantarea extensa is still a bit of a 70+. All these are coded and details recorded. mess and plants of the then unnamed Alcanta- Thanks to some generous tourist collectors, rea patriae were circulating disguised as collecting wild seed and plants a reference Alcantarea extensa . A lot of Australian plants collection is building up. I have contact with causing much of the confusion appear to be all the major taxonomists involved, enjoy- these two plants or a concoction of the two ing their respect (so far) and have all the (There is a recent paper by Leonardo Versieux literature. A data bank has been prepared for in the Brazilian Journal Rodriguésia 61(3) quick reference and comparisons. Where ever 421-429 (http://rodriguesia.jbrj.gov.br/) possible, I will grow one plant and dissect it. Bromeliaceae 15 Sept/Oct 2010 Several serious collectors are collaborating serves two purposes. A barrier to flower en - with me and many more are testing out plants try to crawling insects and a distractant for in different locations. As an example, Ross hovering insects. It is produced away from Little has confirmed that PF975 known as the sexual organs, covering and dripping ‘Raymond Red Brown’ is the same plant as an from stalagmites of gum along the internodal incorrect ex- edmundoi coded JG191094S2. If regions of the branches. This plant also flow- you have the latter you know to check your ers at night which limits pollinators and it plant when it flowers. You don’t get out of it supplies no platform for landing moths. It that easy. When mine grow up I will check does not have the deep seated nectary tube so both are not Alcantarea mucilaginosa (Until popular with the hovering hawkmoths. This now not considered to be circulating in Aus- plant seems to do every thing to maintain tralia). I sent photos to the botanist involved wind pollination. Just tap the plant and you and he said it is a possibility. For those who witness a shower of pollen. I wonder if this like to jump the starting gun; lots of Alcantar- has anything to do with growing on steep rock eas produce mucilage in wet weather. My faces? I wrote an article on this plant in Bro- temporarily named plant, Alc nova produced meliaceae July/ August 2009 but the pictures it in loads. This mucilage production is very were not attached to it. The pictures can be characteristic of the Alc. extensa complex. seen in Bromeliaceae Jan/ Feb p8 2010. Alcantarea nova aff. patriae is self-wind pol- What is a species? linated. I tasted the exudate and it is sweet. With Alcantarea , species limits should Flowers had no odour. I believe mucilage not be considered as static to the degree that growers usually expect because in the distant past a small flux of genes has spread THE OLIVE amongst different plants which eventually evolve as species. That is what taxonomist and gardeners must keep in mind. There is BRANCH genetic variation within the limits of each species. Thelma Barbará et al (Anals of Len and Olive Trevor Botany103:65-77.2009) has shown genetic 232 Canvey Road, Ferny Grove, variance for glaziouana is 20% and for regina Qld 4053 is 22% in the wild in addition this group is Specialising in hybrid Vrieseas, still studying gene flow today. Most growers Aechmeas, Variegated accept the variation found with imperialis but Neoregelias hesitate with other species. Variation should Skotak Hybrids, Aussie Dream and be expected. If your plant does not look varieties, and other quality exactly like your neighbour’s plant ,with the Bromeliads same name, it does not mean one or both of you are wrong. Where do they grow in the wild? They all grow on rocks or in fields of Phone (07) 3351 1203 rocks in Brazil. Most of the horticulturally Visitors welcome by appointment - Please interesting ones grow on sheer cliffs, clefts Phone First or shelves on great granite monoliths known as inselbergs. They all grow in the tropics and Bromeliaceae 16 Sept/Oct 2010 photos Above: Alcantarea imperialis

Green narrow leaved Alcantarea imperialis or its hybrid-- A giant growing through the Alc. regina roof of the bush house in Bundaberg—photo by John Gamlin.

Bromeliaceae 17 Sept/Oct 2010 mostly at altitude on these granite rocks pro- up. I learnt a long time ago that orchids that truding above the Coastal Atlantic Rainforest. occur where Townsville now stands grow In recent times, more are being found away better from Bundaberg to Brisbane than they from the coast. The most tropical is Alcanta- do in Townsville. Townsville is perfect for rea nahoumii from Bahia State and the most pollinator, germination conditions and host southern is regina from São Paulo. The most containing germination specific fungi but, western inland species are Alcantarea hatsch- past this, they grow better elsewhere. Plants bachii , Alcantarea duarteana and Alcantarea seem to condition to new environments as turgida from rocky fields in the highlands of well. Maybe they won’t flower because it is Espinhaço mountain range of Minas Gerais not cold enough but they grow quite well at State. Some grow at sea level like glaziouana sea level in the tropics. and regina while others grow at high altitude Alcantareas seem to do well from like imperialis , geniculata and VdM. Melbourne to Cairns and probably further How to grow alcantareas. north. They must be kept moving along. If I was only given three pieces of advice they stop growing they can stagnate. Keep when I started growing these about 7 years the fertilizer up to them and keep it dilute. ago. Alcantarea imperialis has been reported 1) Fertilize a lot at a tenth of the manu- as flowering after 40 years in the wild. I facturers recommended strength. have heard of hair pups/seed flowering in 2) Have good Drainage three years in Australia. Fertilizer has to be 3) Use large pots. removed in some cases to establish size and Very good advice and about all you need prevent flowering. to know, but you know me by now- there is Silicon: the mystery element more. Silicon is not known as an essential ele- 4) Keep the pot bases out of direct sun- ment for plants but where would the Queens- light or roots will stew. Alternatively double land Gympie Stinging Tree (Dendrocnide pot with pieces of foam plastic between the moroides ) be without its silica hypodermic pots. barbs? Recently the Botanists Leonardo 5) Prevent attack from curl grubs. Versieux et al. (Nordic Journal of Botany 28: 6) Don’t let air stagnate around the 385_397, 2010) discovered that Alcantareas plants. had round deposits of silica in their leaf cells. 7) Flush the pots out monthly to remove He says that all plants belonging to the acids. order (grasses, sedges…). have silica in their 8) Water well. epidermis. It may be useful to protect from 9) Most important. Only roots to be pot- herbivores and has several other roles (see ted below ground level. reference above). Botanists have suggested 10) A support is usually needed when that as Alcantareas grow on hot rocks this recently repotted. deposit could be a mechanism for reflecting Fertilizing heat away. I believe none of this was the These can be very fast growing plants. intent of the plant. You don’t need to replicate nature. There are I will be interested to see what my no precipitous granite mountains over 1000 silicon starved Alcantareas do growing on meters high anywhere near the sea shore near my trees. I think the vacuole is just a garbage Bowen and no rainforest to keep the humidity dump for unwanted silica. My reason is; silica Bromeliaceae 18 Sept/Oct 2010 Photo above : Alcantarea regina (VdM) Photo top above Alcantarea patriae This has a great future - photo published Photo bottom above : Alcantarea patriae with permission from Mark Paul inflorscence

Alcantarea geniculata

Bromeliaceae 19 Sept/Oct 2010 (sand) as we all know is extremely difficult to ably get near enough to 100% red if you self dissolve. Roots attack the rock by releasing or cross reds. Crossing green with green it is acid at the root tips. This must become very still possible to get some reds. That is simple concentrated on the exposed rocks if it is to genetics and it is probably more complex than take on the rocks. In taking up trace elements, that for two reasons. soluble silica (in an acidic form) could be 1)There are degrees of redness as taken up by the plant. Hitting near neutral pH shown in composite photo on page 12,with inside the plant, silica will reform as colloidal many possibilities like both sides, undersides, silica which would be dumped into vacuoles tips etc displaying colour, suggesting multi in the leaf. Silica eventually returns to the soil gene involvement. as the leaf dies and drops off. Well that is how 2) Selfing is not properly carried out a chemist would see it. Charles Darwin may by growers. Flower should be covered by a have seen it quite differently. stocking or the like. Diseases of Alcantareas Note: (photo 12 - top) Composite photo Your first plant will die from rot start- showing variations in imperialis bracts -- sup- ing as a hole where the leaves meet the trunk. plied by Leo Versieux. If you have followed the rules above and Once you have the seed, growing is avoided root rot this problem would have simple. If it is raining when pods burst (often been caused by either the removal of a hair the case) dry seed quickly before storing or pup and not cleaning the wound, or potting it will start to germinate and die. I germinate too deeply so that the yummy green stuff is seed in a ‘take away’ sandwich container presented to a wandering curl grub (have rather than a ‘hot food take away’ container you ever seen a lawn grub above ground as the sandwich one has a roof sloping down level?—no). The grub then eats into the into the media so you can water them without plant and destroys its core. The plant looks taking the lid off. Sterile coconut fibre is used perfectly healthy, you hose it and it falls off as a medium. I sterilize it enough by using its perch. boiling water or the microwave. If you value Growing from seed: your microwave make sure the fibre is very Research has been done by Gustavo wet. Seeds are soaked for about 2 hours. The Martinelli (Reproductive Biology of Brome- usually alive and fertile seeds are removed liaceae in the Atlantic rainforest of southern from the bottom of the jar and spread over Brazil, PhD thesis, University of Saint the moist fibre. Two hours is rather arbitrary Andrews Scotland). He found that selfing as after 24 hours everything is at the bottom. Alcantarea imperialis with its pollen from its You can plant the floaters separately but it is own plant results in a greatly reduced number usually chaff and dead seeds. of seeds (0 to 29% success). You need to Chaff is unwanted as it just supplies collect the pollen from a second plant to get food for possible fungal infection. If you good results (52 to 75%). Thelma Barbará, don’t get an algal or fungal infection your a Population Geneticist is studying (with seeds bulge green, you fertilize them and others) the outcome of selfings of plants away they grow. Early in seed development with leaves of the same colour. No results I use a large tray and soak plants from the published yet. I am guessing a bit but with bottom up. This makes sure all fungi, algae what I have seen I do think the red leaf in or excess tannin can be dealt with and guaran- imperialis is a recessive gene so you prob- tees that no seed is dry. Divide as soon as you Bromeliaceae 20 Sept/Oct 2010 photo above: Alc. nahoumii photo left: Alc regina (see text for details)

Alc. imperialis

Bromeliaceae 21 Sept/Oct 2010 can to promote fast growth. They are hungry removing the chaff I often soak them for a plants and unlike most plants stay dormant further 22 hrs and get greatly improved re- if too closely packed. Growth is slow at the sults. With very old seed sometimes there is start so I like to cover the surface with seed not enough reserves. The seed swells, goes to produce a lot of green to starve the surface yellow-green then dies. It does not make it of light. This minimizes algal growth. Spread to green. I am testing out soaking in a dilute them out as soon as reasonable. While they sugar solution. Recent tests were upended by are young plants, I often dust the surface with a possum. I will report on this later as that fine coconut peat to minimize algal growth. was the last of my seed. Algal growth is the curse. It does not kill the Alcantarea imperialis in the wild. plants but when you have too much it dies Thelma Barbará et al Anals of Bot- and releases toxins. Even toxic to us. Beaches any103:65-77.2009 did genetic studies on are closed when it blooms and horses have samples of Alcantarea imperialis plants died running on beaches covered with decay - collected from inselbergs Irma Menor and ing algae. This is why I am not suggesting Juiz de Fora/Macae-de-Cima pair along treatment with alginox. With old seed after with 6 other grouped locations. The latter 6 all cluster well together in the statistical WILDFIRE GARDEN BROMELIAD NURSERY analysis. The Irma Menor data is compli- ALCANTAREA’S FOLIAGE VRIESEA’S cated by a serious involvement of geniculata NEOREGELIA’S & OTHER GENERA in imperialis’ past. With the Juiz de Fora pair, the population is slightly statistically VISITORS WELCOME removed from the others suggesting, to me, BY APPOINTMENT that it may be a different form. The last is at Cheryl Basic Vale das Videiras. It is unique and I think that 1560 Yandina-Coolum road may be worth further taxonomic revision as Yandina. 4561 it clusters statistically away from imperialis Ph. 07 5472 8827 and between geniculata and regina . In the Mob. 0403 193069 [email protected] past, taxonomists looked at morphological features. Geneticists find inconsistencies in small samples of the plant’s genome which Membership Renewal may or may not reflect collateral change in It’s time to renew your membership of morphology. A classical comparison in the the Bromeliad Society of Queensland Animal Kingdom of these two methods of classification would be the following. The Cost: DNA of a chimpanzee is closer to a human Single: $35 than to a gorilla. If you were a DNA tax- Family: $40 onomist (and a lumper type) you would put chimpanzee in with humans but if you see the You can either pay your membership animals morphological features chimpanzee at the meetings or would be placed with the gorilla. We fix a post it in to: problem only to create a new one sometimes. The Membership Secretary This is only my interpretation from a gardener P.O. Box 575 Fortitude Valley first, scientist second, point of view of these * Membership becomes due 1st January each year difficult to understand genetic publications. Bromeliaceae 22 Sept/Oct 2010 If you are a serious student I suggest you read the works yourself. Statistics is all in MIDHURST the interpretation. I can illustrate this from a quote from my second year Statistical BROMELIAD Mathematics teacher. “ More people die of heart attacks on the Concord flight than on NURSERY any other plane”—this means the concord SPECIALIST GROWERS OF is either the biggest health risk in flying or TILLANDSIA SEEDLINGS alternatively their passengers are usually Hard grown to suit All Australian wealthy and could therefore eat too much of conditions the wrong food. A case of age here, called acquired memory. I’m sure the Concord did Wholesale and Mail Order Only not exist when I was a student. I think my Write for a free price list of Tillandsia lecturer said, “Transatlantic Flights”. Why and other genera to: destroy a good story with facts? Growing from hair/grass pups MIDHURST BROMELIAD First problem is getting hair pups. NURSERY Thelma Barbará et al Anals of Botany103:65- P. O. BOX 612 77.2009 has shown that in the wild low HURSTBRIDGE, 3099 altitude Alcantareas propagate mainly from PHONE (03) 9718 2887 vegetative reproduction where as high alti- FAX (03) 9718 2760 tude ones reproduce by sexual (seed) propa- EMAIL : [email protected] gation. In agreement with this, low altitude plants grown in the garden, tend to hair pup frequently, whereas high altitude plants do just the opposite. This may be just environ- BROMAGIC ment. Hair pups can wither and die during BROMELIAD NURSERY windy weather. In the cold (at altitude) the same may happen. They can be very thin 421 Hunchy Rd, with high surface to mass ratio. They could be vulnerable to environmental issues. Does Palmwoods 4555 this reflect into garden grown specimens? The answer is in part –yes. Alcantarea imperialis OPEN TO THE PUBLIC is occasionally monocarpic i.e. only grows WEDS – FRIDAY 9:30 – 2:30 from seed. Geniculata is high altitude and SATURDAY 9:00 - 4:00 yet some of these oppose the theory as they An extensive range of Bromeliads can be prolific “puppers”. Looks that way including many first release for some in my garden but my plants are Neoregelia hybrids very small and of doubtful origin. I do think that I have read that geniculata comes down www.bromeliads-of-australia.com.au to fairly low altitudes in places in the wild and these plants may be the pupping forms. For enquiries phone Sue on Earlier I said ‘in part correct’ as I find I can 07 54450441 induce just about all young plants to hair pup Bromeliaceae 23 Sept/Oct 2010 by wounding the base. Pulling leaves off a bit on them. We may have to wait till they flower green could kill your plant if it was subse- to identify them. What I have seen are not quently infected. Alternatively it could induce really at all like nahoumii and would appear scar tissue formation which can progress to to be from the extensa/ patriae complexes. adventitious growths. In the wild I believe Most likely extensa . In addition to these, I a lot of adventitious growths are smothered was concerned when I saw flasked plants of by a skirt of dead leaves so in the garden we geniculata with all their leaves yellowish. I need to remove this skirt otherwise pups will have been told these are probably OK as there stay white and die. was a yellow variegate form in NZ and vari- Removal of hair pups. egates lose markings on flasking. This would Early rather than later, that is my rule. explain the sallow colour. They can be difficult to remove when they Imported Seed. have size. Removal can squash and or dam- Problem again, imported geniculata age them or their host plant. I like to see them seed is in some cases correct and other times chubby with a root. I regularly remove these wrong. Many other examples can be found. under 5 cm high. Almost never lose any. I Alcantarea roberto-kautskyi turning out to sit them in a community pot containing fine be imperialis etc. Just adds further to the coconut fibre. You want only the roots under- naming confusion. ground. They are too small to stake. Instead, My favourites as garden subjects what I use is drinking straws (photo page Alcantarea imperialis I feel is almost 12). I cut the straws lengthwise so that the everyone’s first favourite. If we had it in Aus- plant can expand inside them, then I push the tralia, I would put the red form of Alcantarea straws, enclosing the base of the plant, into turgida before it. Seems that the red leaves media till the plant just touches the surface. are the big attraction. A picture of turgida can You can get various width straws. Larger be found at (R. Smythe “Alcantarea Turg- ones are used by kids drinking the various ida ” Bromeliaceae Jan/Feb. pp15-16 2010). slushes so popular today. Even bigger ones Unfortunately the red leaves on some plants from florists. Recently, with wet weather ap- can be a put off factor for me. These poor proaching, instead of straws, I have used that forms are just far too common (photo page flat plastic coated garden wire (photo page 17 - top left). Search around for a good form. 12), made a little loop with a long leg . Pushed My favourites are the green leaved forms. leg into pot then sat the plant in the loop. Plant All the wide leaved plants are stunning. Very just sits upright on top of the media. Untested leathery and often very straight leaved. I have yet but probably straws should be the best for seen a beautiful green form with rounded dry conditions and loops for wet. leaf tips coming from NZ and another green Note: re Imports http://www.aqis.gov. form with more pointed tips (curled sides at au/icon32/asp/ex_querycontent.asp tip) circulating sparsely in Australia (photo See table at the top of this document opposite bottom). The narrow leaved forms, and details at URL above. if they are pure imperialis, don’t grab me as There are quite a few flasks around and much. Some of these are extremely tall sug- it becomes very confusing when suppliers are gesting hybrid vigour. The bract shape and spreading around the wrong plant in large inflorescence suggest to me that Alcantarea numbers. If you have bought flasked plants of regina may be involved (photo page 17 - bot- Alc. nahoumii you should put a question mark tom right). The tall column of flower spikes Bromeliaceae 24 Sept/Oct 2010 Alcantarea glaziouana (Large growing Alcantarea imperialis (cabbage form) form).

Alcantarea imperialis (Large growing form) Bromeliaceae 25 Sept/Oct 2010 can be impressive especially if the bracts Alcantarea imperialis are bright red. Unfortunately the flowers for (photo page. 21) One of the more at- many imperialis plants are usually a flop. tractive bicoloured forms. Mine does not look Barely mature when they actually do flop like pupping. Some of this type are known to (or go flaccid in jargon terms see photo page. be monocarpic which means I may have to 17 - top left) grow my next one from seed. Alcantarea imperialis (cabbage form) Alcantarea nahoumii (most tropical (photo page 25) I believe this one Alcantarea) comes from Nova Friburgo which would put (photo page 21) The northern limit of it in the grouping of two statistically removed distribution of Alcantareas in Brazil is set by from the main bunch of imperialis. Alcantarea nahoumii . This particular clone I Alcantarea imperialis (large green form) have traced back to Chester Skotak in Costa (photo page 25) This is my favourite- It Rica. Most of the plants sold with this name has form and elegance. I would like to know I believe are from flasks. These show wax where it comes from. Molly says, “ It makes banding and are purple blotched plants so a great Puppy Gazebo”. they are not nahoumii. When they flower I Alcantarea glaziouana (Large growing should be able to help. The above photograph form). I took in John Catlan’s bush house. (photo page. 25) Flat puffy milk white Alcantarea patriae flowers is a dead give away for this species. I believe there is a lot of Alcantarea Genetically it is a well defined species but patriae (photo page 19) and its hybrids in can vary in height and can have pink bracts. Australia. Must have come in a long time ago. There appears to be quite a variation in leaf I am watching at least three different strands width as well. of plants found here and traceable to older Plant commonly incorrectly named in collectors that could be patriae . Brazil Alcantarea regina (VdM) This photo (page 21) taken in Brazil, See photo (page. 19) where I was told that this concolour green Alcantarea geniculata form of imperialis growing amongst the red The photo of this plant (page 19) and bicoloured leaved forms were (at least in published with permission from Mark Paul. 2002) erroneously known as regina ( as per The plants shown in it are hail damaged photo). I believe this plant would now still be but otherwise as good as you can get are classified as an imperialis as the inflorescence the bigger ones at the back. Must be lots of mostly looks correct. This plant lies within hybrids around as it is difficult to even find the Alcantarea imperialis variation. Leaf a picture that matches the plants botanical shape and lower scape bracts are a worry. description. It probably comes from the intergrade with Alcantarea imperialis geniculata site mentioned earlier. It is not The photos illustrate a number of dif- a primary hybrid as branches are too long. ferent forms The photo (page 17 - top left) If what I say is correct and this may come is of a red form with poor markings and the from Vale das Videiras. one should ask,“Is more usual scatty flower. this a new species”? No not for me. Thanks In stark contrast to the previous photo, to Derek Butcher for getting permission to a well grown good form of the same species use this photo. (photo page. 17 - top right) as previous photo, Bromeliaceae 26 Sept/Oct 2010 grown and photographed in Queensland by found with Portuguese writing. Hope I have John Crawford. Interestingly I checked the not offended any one by leaving them off. I viability of the seed from this plant and it hope they are more involved with pronuncia- was 23% suggesting it was self pollinated tion and not with meaning. by its own pollen c.f. “Growing from Seed” photographs section above. Taken by me unless individually ac- Alcantarea regina knowledged. - Rob Smythe MSc The plant shown in (photo page 17) is something that I have been searching for, for years. The type form of Alcantarea regina . Bromeliad Society of I still have not located this plant in the Aus- Queensland tralian collections that I have visited. photo supplied by Leo Versieux. Acknowledgement Annual General Meeting This article has grown from a scatty Date: diatribe to a near scientific paper thanks to Thursday 17th February 2011 the relaying by Mark Paul of his experience while tramping through their habitat. Special Venue: appreciation to Leo Versieux for advising me The Uniting Hall, on my technical difficulties and supplying me 52 Merthyr Rd., with correct spelling for about every locality New Farm, Brisbane. in Brazil that I tried to spell. I still don’t know commencing 7.30 pm. how to generate all those squiggles and things Calendar of Events Sat/Sun 2/3 April - Bromeliad Bonanza - Plant Show and Plant Sale - Opening Times: Saturday 2nd 8.00 am - 4.00 pm - Sunday 3rd 9.00 am - 3.00 pm Spectular displays of Bromeliads, Over 700 varieties/hybrids of Bromeliads on sale, advice on cultivation from experienced growers, displays and most of plant sales areas under cover, refreshments available for purchase, Monster Bromeliad raffle, wide range of bromeliad books on sale including Starting with Bromeliads a comprehensive bromeliad guide for sub-tropi- cal and tropical Australia, plenty of free parking - ADULTS $3.00 - Children under 14 free. Public transport: BCC bus 471 from City or Great Circle Bus 598 from various suburbs.

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GENERAL MEETINGS of the Society are held on the 3rd Thursday of each month except for December, at the Uniting Hall, 52 Merthyr Rd., New Farm, Brisbane, commenc- ing 7.30 pm. Classes for beginners commence at 7.00 pm. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING is held immediately before the February General Meeting Bromeliaceae 27 Sept/Oct 2010 Bromeliaceae 28 Sept/Oct 2010